Electro-therapeutic device



(No Model.)

H. P. PRATT. BLECTRD THERAPEUTIG DEVICE.

No. 407,116. Patented July 16, 1889.v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HARRY P. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,116, dated July 16, 1889.

Application tiled ivlaj '7, 1889. Serial No. 309,912. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

e itknown that I, IIARRY P. PRATT, a citizen of the lfnited States, residing at Chicago, in the count-y ot Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electro-flherapeutic Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object ot' my invention is to provide a device adapted, as to size and lform, to be readily carried in the hand and held for application to the body, as to the nose, in the use of the device as an inhaler 'for the treatment of nasal catarrh, and which shall operate, when so held and applied, to close an electric circuit through the body and cause the current generated to pass through the inhalent substance or medicament with which the device may be supplied.

My invention consists in the general construction of my improved device; and it also consists in details ot construction and combinations of parts.

The accompanying drawing' shows my improvem ent in the form of an electric inhaler in sectional elevation, and provided with attachments to adapt it for different purposes.

A is a chamber formed, preferably, of material either non-conductive of electricitysuch as hard rubber-or ot conducting material, properly insulated. On one end of the chamber is secured an end piece in the form of a cap B, of conducting material, (metah) and on the other end is secured an end piece in the form of a nozzle C, also of conducting material, (metah) and provided, for convenience, in two parts, as shown, one affording a coupling rand the other the tip q screwed into it, and the two affording a receptacle, closed except as to the perforation o in the end of the tip, and containing' a desired inhalent substance, which I prefer to provide on a sponge p, or other suitable absorbent material, saturated with the inhalent,

Inside the chamber is an electric generator D, preferably in the form ot' a galvanie battery, which, the chamber being of tubular shape, I construct of disks of proper materials-as alternate layers et copper, feit, and zinewith a copper element at one extremity of t-he battery and a zine at the opposite extremity to constitute the opposite polarity of the ends. rlhe series of disks are connected together, as by a rod yn of insulating material passed through their centers, and they are clamped together by metallic nuts m on the lends et' the rod n, to which nuts metallic contacts lare applied, and confined, respectively, against the adjacent ends of the cap B and coupling r.

To prepare the device as thus described for use as an electric inhaler, the battery D is charged by soaking it in an exeitingliquidsuch as vincgar-(removing it for the purpose from the chamber A and replacing it) and the sponge p is nioistened with the inhalent substance. y then applying the nozzle C to the nose, at the same time holding the device in the hand at the cap B, the eircuit of the generator D is closed through the body, subjecting the part to be treated to the etl'ect of the current and rendering the inhalent substance introduced at the same time into the nostril by inhalation the more active by the excitant effect of the current 011 the membrane; and, if desired, the fumes of the inhalent substance may be caused to pass, for the purpose of filtration, through absorbent cotton or the like, in the nozzle.

To protect the nozzle when the device is not in use as an inhaler and prevent escape of the fumes, it should be covered by means of a cap E, which I prefer to form of conducting material (metal) in order that with it the device may be used for other purposes than that of an electric inhaler, as for allaying pain or exciting the skin (depending upon which pole be in contact with the coupling r) by rubbing the cap E over the surface of the body to be aiected while holding the device in the hand at the cap B. Afurther adjunct is provided in the form of a cup F, of rubber, metal, or other material, removably or permanently secured to the cap B, and et a shape adapting `it tor use as an eye-cup and to contain a suitable or medicated liquid for treating the eye, and through which the current from the battery passes when the cup is applied.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electro therapeutic device, the combination of a chamber A, having its ends IOO formed of conducting material, a cap E of conducting material covering one of said ends, and an electric genera-tor D in the chamber having its poles in electrical connection with the said ends, whereby, when the device is 1 held at one end in the hand and the cap on the other end is applied to the body, the`circuit will be closed through the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electro therapeutic device, the combination of a chamber A, having at opposite ends a cap B and a nozzle C, both of conducting material, and an electric generator D in the chamber, havin g contacts Z at opposite ends in electrical contact with the parts B and C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electro therapeutic device, the combination of a chamber A, having at opposite ends a cap B anda nozzle C, both of conducting material, an electric generator D in the chamber, having contacts Z at opposite ends in electrical contact With the parts B and O, and a cap E, of conducting material, removably secured over the nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electro -therapeutic device, the combination of a chamberA, having at opposlte ends a cap B and a nozzle C, both of conducting material, the nozzle being formed with a coupling r and tip q, separably connected together, and an electric generatorD in the chamber having metallic contacts Z at opposite ends and respectively in contact with the cap B and coupling o, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electrotherapeutic device, the combination rof a chamber A, having at opposite ends a cap B and a nozzle C, both of conducting material, and a galvanic battery D in the chamber having its elements connected by a rod n and clamped together on the rod, and contacts Z on the projecting ends of the rod confined, respectively, against the cap B and nozzle C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electrotherapeutic device, the combination of a chamber A, having at opposite ends a cap B and a nozzle C, both of conducting material, the 'nozzle being formed with a coupling r and tip q, separably connected together, absorbent material p in the nozzle moistened With an inhalent substance, and an electric generator D in the chamber, having contacts Z confined against the parts B and C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an electro therapeutic device, the combination of a chamber A, having at opposite ends a cap B and a nozzle C, both of conducting material, an electric generator D in the chamber, having contacts Z at opposite ends confined against the parts B and C, a cap E, of conducting material, removably secured over the nozzle, and acup F, extending from the cap B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HARRY P. PRATT.

In presence of- J. WV. DYRENFORTH, M. J. BOWERS. 

